Bolton conceded five goals for a third match in succession, as Ipswich Town won 5-0 at the University of Bolton Stadium to go atop the League One table.

After tasting defeat by the same scoreline at Tranmere Rovers last time out, Wanderers came under intense scrutiny during the week when their home fixture with Doncaster Rovers was postponed over concerns for player welfare.

Manager Phil Parkinson stepped down from his post on Wednesday, but Jimmy Phillips was unable to prevent his young troops from being on the receiving end of another hiding - as braces from James Norwood and Kayden Jackson, in addition to a strike from Gwion Edwards, handing the Tractor Boys the most routine of away victories.

Beginning a third stint as interim manager, Phillips made just one change to the side that lost at Prenton Park last Saturday as De'Marlio Brown-Sterling took the place of Eddie Brown in attack, with Ronan Darcy shifted out to the left-hand side of midfield.

Wanderers, playing in front of their lowest league crowd since October 1992, enjoyed plenty of possession against a team which was relegated from the Championship alongside them last season, but it was the visitors who looked the more likely winners from the first whistle to the last.

Ipswich took just eight minutes to register their first effort on goal, with Norwood nodding down a cross from Edwards only to be denied by Remi Matthews.

Town should have gone ahead on 16 minutes as Kane Vincent-Young stole possession in dangerous territory before playing a low ball across the face of the box. Norwood and Kayden Jackson were both in position for a simple tap-in, but neither could make the desired contact.

Jackson almost made amends moments later with a strike that forced a smart save out of Matthews at his near post, but it wasn't to be too much longer before the deadlock was ultimately broken.

In defending a corner, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Harry Brockbank was adjudged to have used his hand inside the box, allowing Norwood to smash home from 12 yards to make it 1-0.

Jackson, Alan Judge and Norwood all came close to doubling the advantage as the clock ticked towards the half-hour, before Judge then saw a goalbound effort brush the back of Flynn Downes on its way behind for a goal-kick.

Joe White was robbed on 33 minutes, allowing Norwood to race clean through on goal. However, with only Matthews left to beat, his chipped attempt was well read by the goalkeeper who got down to make the smother.

Norwood lashed over shortly afterwards but it was Bolton who ended the half the stronger, with James Weir curling a free-kick over the crossbar following a foul on Brockbank.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Wanderers returned having brought Finlay Lockett on in place of Sonny Graham, but the change had little impact on the contest as Ipswich quickly made it 2-0.

After making several superb stops to deny Jackson and Luke Chambers, Matthews was beaten on 50 minutes as Edwards tapped home after Norwood had been denied.

Jackson made it 3-0 on the hour before netting his second - Town's fourth - four minutes later, while Edwards' attempt to make it five flashed just wide of the target midway through the half.

Downes let fly from 30 yards with a strike that cleared the crossbar with 20 minutes to play, moments before Norwood got his brace to make it 5-0.

Substitute Emyr Huws brought an outstanding one-handed save out of Matthews with 81 minutes played, while Bolton's only meaningful effort in the entire game arrived four minutes from time as a back-post header from Brockbank hit the side netting.

Bolton, for all their effort and desire, simply cannot compete in their current state - shipping five goals in three consecutive games for the first time in their history.

With hardly any senior players, no manager, no shirt sponsor, no season ticker holders and seemingly no hope, a takeover by the Football Ventures consortium can't come soon enough.

Wanderers return to action next Saturday, when they face winless Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium.